The Depression

On March 23rd, 2003, a billion hopes died when Ricky Ponting battered the Indian bowling attack, sending the team crashing to defeat in the final of the 8th ICC World Cup.

4 years later, on the same day, India made their exit from the 9th ICC World Cup, although the manner in which they did so this time around was nowhere close to as heroic as the way they went down in the last edition.

India are out of the World Cup, before the super 8s even begin. Bangladesh, and probably England, will now be taking the last two places. More to follow, on India's last World Cup match and their elimination...

Two more march in

Ireland and Sri Lanka's places in the super 8s have been sealed. Sri Lanka thrashed Bangladesh to ensure their entry, also ensuring that an Indian victory on March 23rd sees India through irrespective of the Bangladesh-Bermuda match. Which means India can relax in terms of NRR, all they need to concentrate on is a win and they're in to the super 8s with 2 points, everything (almost) exactly as planned.

Inzy played his last ODI today, as Pakistan crushed the Zimbabweans to see Ireland through to the super 8s. Ireland and West Indies now play on the 23rd in what is effectively their first super 8s game.

The last two places are now between India and Bangladesh, and between England and Kenya. India have a slightly harder match to win than the Britishers, requiring a win against Sri Lanka as opposed to one against Kenya.

Semi-final predictions:

Australia vs West Indies
South Africa vs Sri Lanka

This, a little after half-time

Sri Lanka 318/4 after 50 overs
Bangladesh 7/2 after 5 overs

Clearly, they hadn't improved that much after all.

India really need to beat Sri Lanka to save some face (and go forth) after this.

Who's in now?

4 teams have entered the super 8s already: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies. The remaining places are to be contested as follows:

2 between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (as discussed previously)
1 between England and Kenya (winner goes through)
1 between Ireland and Zimbabwe (Pakistan victory sees Ireland through)

Chances are, tomorrow we'll have one more place confirmed (Ireland's), assuming there are no more upsets. The other 3 will have to wait for a while longer...

The equation as it stands...

So the Men in Blue managed to do the first part of their job exactly as they had to - beat Bermuda and beat them bad... a better win than the Lankans had. Although critics may complain about the fact that it took them 40+ overs to get rid of the 66,000-population country's team, the fact is still that they beat them with the record highest victory margin and everyone, save Uthappa, got some batting practice.

Now the next task - beat Sri Lanka. Although it's not exactly clear how well that needs to be done, I think they're fine and through even with a tiny win. The reasoning: Bangladesh didn't really wallop India, yeah they won in style and all, but in the end they still only had 9 balls to spare and managed a NRR of +0.139 after the win. The extent of India's victory over Bermuda ensured that if India beat Sri Lanka (and Lanka beat Bangladesh), Bangladesh would need a phenomenal victory over the associate nation to see their net run rate exceed those of India or Sri Lanka. And this is assuming Sri Lanka's victory over Bangladesh will be a small one, which it may not be.

If Bangladesh win, then it's fair and simple - the winner of the India-Sri Lanka match goes through... though it would be better for us if they just lost, we beat Sri Lanka and then Bermuda survived a little better against Bangladesh, handing India and Sri Lanka the super 8 spots. That's the ideal situation as of now, but beggars can't be choosers; we'll just have to wait for tomorrow... and then the 23rd... and hopefully then for the 25th...

What happened here?

Bob Woolmer, the coach of the Pakistani cricket team, died today in a hospital in Jamaica. Although the whole story isn't out yet, the fact that it coincides with Pakistan's elimination from the World Cup is too big a coincidence to miss. This is extremely shocking news, probably implying suicide or poisoning... horrible indeed.

Rest In Peace Bob.

A sad, shocking day indeed...

They said that they'd found a World Cup format that would finally work. A format where the top 8 teams would play each other for supremacy, leading to the top 4 places for the semi-finalists. And it looked perfect as it was.

But it was not to be. Today, one upset has already thrown things in the air a little, and another potential one about an hour from now could create even more havoc. Pakistan are on the verge on being eliminated from the super 8 if they're upset by the Irish, while India need to beat Sri Lanka and pray to the net run rate Gods to see them through after a loss to Bangladesh.

The Irish... what a bloody huge surprise. After choking South Africa in the warm-ups, they came back from the dead against Zimbabwe to tie the match and are now 37 runs away from what could be their entry into the super 8s. This isn't the same thing as Kenya going through on a forfeit and other results. This would be an earned victory, right on St. Patrick's Day. What drama!

Now for the match that I've been avoiding for obvious reasons. The one that's already happened. Bangladesh thrashing India - yes, I don't mean edging them out in a last over thriller, but comfortably thrashing them. India played 7 batsmen and managed 191, thanks to a contribution of 30 from number 10 and 11. Yes, 5 out of the main 7 failed to cross the 15 run mark, and only 3 reached double figures. Keep in mind this is against Bangladesh, the minnows, we're not even talking about Sri Lanka or the super 8s yet. This, as with the Ireland-Pakistan match, was supposed to be a one-sided performance much like the other minnow-big team games, with India and Pakistan dominating. And now we're talking about a Super Eight involving Ireland and Bangladesh!

Yes, the organizers managed to find a way to ensure that the top 8 teams would be playing each other in the super 8s. No more Zimbabwe and Kenya type entrances based on rain/forfeits. But this time, the teams screwed things up for themselves. Neither India nor Pakistan can turn to anyone and complain. India need to get their acts together for the next match against Bermuda and then the biggie against Sri Lanka. Winning the latter may still see us through with 2 points, losing it sees us out of the competition in round 1, for the first time since 1992. Pakistan, meanwhile (assuming Ireland don't pull a Zimbabwe and knock off those 32 runs), have a consolation match against Zimbabwe, winning which would see the West Indians through to the super 8s... along with the Irish!

A awful day indeed for both Indian and Pakistani cricket. I'm glad not to be back home right now, where the country will probably be hushed up for the next few days.

Semi Final Predictions:

Austalia vs Sri Lanka
South Africa vs West Indies

World Cup History: The Opener

I have some free time that I didn't expect (work that I estimated would take me 4 hours took me only 2) and so I'm going to spend (waste?) it with this blog entry. The title pretty much explains what this is all about.

The 2003 Opening Match: West Indies vs South Africa

This one was brilliant, the way it see-sawed throughout the match right until the last over. The hosts were clearly the favorites, and seemed to be on their way to restricting the Windies to a small total when the scorecard 23/2 after 14 overs. It was then that Lara, just back into the team after an injury had him out for months, revived the ghosts of the 1996 quarter final and played a blinder. His 134-ball 116 helped the inaugural champions to a fighting total of 278/5.

South Africa's chase was steady throughout, though they lost wickets at regular intervals, pushing the required run rate up to 7 by the 27th over. The hosts seemed down and out when Kirsten was out for 69, at 155/5. With a hundred and fourteen required of the last 84 balls, things seemed out of reach. Kluesner and Boucher steadied things until Boucher was out at 204/7, with a run rate of 9.25 still required. It was then that the so far dormant Zulu, who had been out of touch and a shadow of his 1999 World Cup days, played an innings that was remniscent of the spectacular 1999 semi-final. Kluesner smashed 46 runs of his next 20 balls, taking the hosts 9 runs within victory range with one over left. (Note: South Africa had to reach the target in 49 overs, as this was still the period where slow over rates were penalized with less overs for the team batting second).

The setting was almost identical to that of South Africa's last world cup match - the semi final tie that had them eliminated 4 years ago in Birmingham. And the result, once again, disappointment for South Africa. Boje took a single of the first ball, allowing Kluesner 5 more to score 8 runs of. The commentator (can't remember who it was right now, probably nobody important seeing as this was a Sony Max commentator) predicted South Africa would win within the next 2. Kluesner faced a dot ball, and then aired one to mid wicket, trying to clear the fence, only to send it straight to Hooper. West Indies insured their victory in the next few balls, as South Africa once again proved correct their eternal tag of being chokers.

Hopefully the West Indies vs Pakistan game tomorrow will prove to be as exciting. Hope all those who find a way to watch it enjoy!

"Let the games begin!"

It's officially underway! WOOHOO!

Unfortunately I missed the opening ceremony so will have to wait until it's put up on YouTube.

Warm-up matches: Round Up (second set of them)

The gist:

India, Australia and Pakistan still seem in good form; South Africa seem to have some batting problems they need to resolve and West Indies need to stop with the Calypso Collapso. The others seem to be doing ok, (because these are, after all, merely warm up games).

The real test starts in just 2 days!

Warm-up matches: Round Up (first set of them)

The gist:

Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England all looking in good form with both bat and ball, beat their minnow counterparts with much ease.

The other games... West Indies beat Kenya, though the semi-finalists of the last edition didn't get blown away as easily as they might have. South Africa-Ireland... that was a disaster - the sheer fact that the number one team can have a tight game with an associate shows how wide open this tournament is. South Africa don't quite seem to have the aura that Australia maintained as the number one team (aura = arrogance?). Quite frankly, I don't see them winning this time. Maybe semi-finalists, but still not sure. As for New Zealand-Bangladesh, it goes to show how Bangladesh have improved in the past few years to have won that. New Zealand need to pull up their socks lest they find themselves out of the Super 8s or something disastrous because of an upset like this. Yeah, because with this format, one upset could result in elimination from the tournament for a big team, and a minnow could see themselves through to the super 8.

Current semi-final predictions:

SF1: Australia vs South Africa (this would be an awesome repeat)
SF2: West Indies vs India (can still keep hope...)